LYON, France – A first-of-its-kind police operation targeting illicit firearms trafficking across Europe and Central Asia has resulted in the seizure of 2,823 small arms and light weapons, almost 400 hand grenades and explosives, and over 40,000 pieces of ammunition.
INTERPOL-coordinated Operation Trigger X (22 June – 5 July) was conducted across 17 countries and highlighted the long-term impact of conflict stockpiles on firearms trafficking. With investigations ongoing, currently available operational results indicate that a substantial amount of the illegal weaponry seized was linked to former or ongoing armed conflict zones, including the Balkan region, Eastern Europe and Nagorno-Karabakh. Multiple Soviet-era firearms were also seized or voluntarily surrendered in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
In addition to seizures, participating authorities reported 152 arrests related to firearms possession or trafficking, as well as other crimes and offences such as drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and robbery. A total of 15 individuals subject to INTERPOL Notices were intercepted, including five fugitives wanted internationally under Red Notices. One individual, who was detained by authorities in Georgia, is wanted by Türkiye on suspicion of murder.
Illicit firearms heading to and from conflict zones
Information collected during the operation indicates that conflict areas are also destinations for both legally declared and illicit firearms. In one major seizure at the Lesovo border crossing between Bulgaria and Türkiye, customs officers impounded two heavy goods vehicles containing over 1,000 military-grade shotguns.
Harald Arm, Executive Director of Police Capabilities at INTERPOL said:
“Operation Trigger X has revealed the high-level risk of weapons that are used in armed conflicts being diverted into organized crime channels, where they are used to commit other crimes.
“These seizures demonstrate the importance of coordinated international action to identify trafficking routes, dismantle criminal networks and prevent illicit firearms from reaching those who seek to use them for criminal purposes.”
Bulgarian customs officers also seized 73 counterfeit handguns at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing with Türkiye. The guns were discovered in a truck carrying car parts to western Europe, with 23 concealed under the driver’s mattress. Counterfeit firearms aim to imitate genuine models, using falsified markings to further obscure their origin and complicate identification and tracing, making them attractive to criminal networks.
A total of 268 hand grenades were also seized during the operation, with Serbia reporting the largest single seizure, recovering 68 grenades trafficked from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Authorities in Serbia also discovered a clandestine workshop converting gas and starter guns into firearms. A search of the premises led to one arrest and the seizure of dozens of pistols and pistol parts, as well as 280 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Inflatable boats seized at EU border
In addition to illegal firearms and hand grenades, Operation Trigger X led to the seizure in Bulgaria of 20 inflatable dinghies. Labelled as inflatable mattresses bound for a western European country, intelligence suggests that the shipment was linked to criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling and intended for use in clandestine English Channel crossings.
Five irregular migrants were also intercepted in North Macedonia, while border police in Serbia detained a sixth in the region close to the border with Hungary. This individual was in possession of an automatic rifle and several rounds of ammunition.
Other items seized during the operation included several different types of illicit drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, counterfeit cigarettes and undeclared textiles and food products.
Note to editors
Operation Trigger X was conducted under the European Union Project I ARMS V and the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs I-FORCE Project with additional support from the European Support to Strengthen the Fight Against Migrant Smuggling and Trafficking in Human Beings in the Western Balkans - EU4FAST Project – European Union.
Participating countries: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine.
EMPACT Firearms, Europol, Frontex, SELEC, HSI and ATF also collaborated on Operation Trigger X.
About INTERPOL
Headquartered in Lyon, France, INTERPOL is the world’s largest international police organization, connecting 196 member countries. It maintains global databases containing police information on criminals and crime, and provides operational and forensic support, analysis services and training. These policing capabilities are delivered worldwide and support four global programmes: financial crime and corruption; counter-terrorism; cybercrime; and organized and emerging crime.
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